Carrot & Spud - The New PHC Class Locomotives

Typed on: Tuesday 1st March 2016

Hi everyone.

Today i want to talk about the new PHC Class loco's i was talking about in the previous Blog.

If you want to know all the info then please check out the previous Blog called Farewell C Classes or C Class Farewell.

I want to show you all a few photo's of Carrot and Spud.

Photo below: PHC001 (Carrot).

Photo below: PHC002 (Spud).

The photo below shows Carrot & Spud making their way into UGL Broadmeadow after a morning of testing to Maitland/Telarah and back.

These new loco's will be on the Sandgate to Port Botany and return runs 4190 & 1491 in early March this year.

Thank you all for reading another STV Blog.

Please join/follow my Blog series by clicking Join or Follow under the Blog header (The V Set).

Thank you! :)

Catch you all later!

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

Farewell C Classes

Typed on: Tuesday 1st March 2016

Hi all.

Today i want to talk about the last days of the C Classes on 4190 and 1491 runs.

For those who don't know what these runs are, they are the Crawfords runs.

4190 - Sandgate to Port Botany

1491 - Port Botany to Sandgate

In early March 2016 the C Classes will be taken off these runs and replaced with PHC Classes.. The PHC Classes are C44aci model locomotives.

There will be 2 PHC Class loco's. They also have funky names!

PHC001 (Carrot)

PHC002 (Spud)

In the next blog ill be talking about the new loco's.

Pictures will be included.

Thank you all for reading another STV Blog.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

The Return of V40

Typed on: Tuesday 1st March 2016

The Return of V40:

In 2015 V40 & V48 were involved in a collision in Mount Victoria Yard on the Blue Mountains Line causing damage to the fiberglass fronts on DJM8113 (V48) & DKM8144 (V40).

The 2 good cars were taken off each set and they formed V48.

DJM8113 & DKM8144 (with attached trailer cars) formed V40 and were sent to UGL Unipart for major repairs to the fibreglass fronts.

Here's a photo of V40 repaired.. Good as new.

Put it this way.. After the accident V40 has 2 of V48's cars and vise versa and thats how it will stay.

Out of the 8 cars 2 good cars from V40 and 2 good cars from V48 formed the new V48 and returned to service almost immediately while the bad cars from V40 & 48 formed the new V40.

I hope im making sense with this! Lol

Thank you all for reading another STV Blog.

See you all next time.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

Retired VarioTrams

Typed on: Tuesday 1st March 2016

Retired VarioTrams:

Last weekend i went for a drive to take photo's of the 6 VarioTrams stored at an undisclosed location.

VarioTrams 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105 & 2107 are stored here. (Not in this order).

2106 was scrapped a while ago due to a derailment at Glebe.

When Sydney's Light Rail network was extended from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill we had Urbos 2 Trams on loan from Spain for the increased number of trams needed.

They were numbered 2108-2111.

These trams were sent back to Spain once some of the New Urbos 3 trams were delivered.

Unfortunately i never got a photo of an Urbos 2 tram.

The Vario's were retired in mid 2015 and all replaced with the new Urbos 3 Trams as seen in the photo below.

Im dissapointed with the Vario's being retired seeing they are so young.

Oh well, you can't avoid change i guess.

We have 12 Urbos 3 Trams numbered 2112 - 2124 except 2113.

Apparently 2113 was skipped because it would bring bad luck to passengers travelling to The Star Casino.

When the new Sydney City Light Rail opens we will have new Citadis X05 Trams.

Thank you all for reading another STV Blog.

Please join/follow the blog by clicking Join or Follow under the Blog header (The V Set).

Thank you.

See ya next time!

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

A Splash of Colour

Wednesday 17th February 2016

G'day everyone and welcome to another STV Blog.

Today i want to show you a few photos of mine ive been tampering with.

Making them black and white and giving them a splash of colour!

Lets get started!

Photo 1: SSR Classes leading a BGSY Grain wagons south through Meadowbank.

Photo 2: T4 & Y2 next to eachother at Cronulla.

T4 was with T107 preparing to depart for Bondi Junction.

Y2 was doing some Digital Train Radio System (DTRS) testing.

Photo 3: A row of trains at Central Sydney Terminal.

Photo 4: Making the poles and hand rails stand out on Tangara car D6141.

Photo 5: Red Signals at the Sydney end of Cronulla station.

Photo 6: A Tangara on Platform 25 at Central.

Photo 7: An Epping bound Waratah arrives into Platform 2 at Meadowbank.

Photo 8: Some BGSY Grain wagons at Cockle Creek.

Photo 9: Lady Northcott at Circular Quay.

Photo 10: A Sydney Explorer sightseeing bus at Pyrmont Bay.

Photo 11: The lone speed sign.

This speed sign reading "80" is located where tracks use to be near Newcastle Station.

Photo 12: Oscar Set H23 passing through the peaceful and beautiful Wondabyne Station on a service to Hamilton/Newcastle.

Photo 13: A red flower with a V Set in the background at Hazelbrook Station in the Blue Mountains.

Photo 14: Track Inspection Vehicle MTPV2 passes through Cockle Creek Station headed towards Hamilton.

Photo 15: A Blue Sydney Metro Wristband with the Cherrybrook Station Box & Construction in the background.

Photo 16: The Sydney XPT returning from Grafton passes through Cockle Creek.

I hope you all enjoyed these photo's.

Ill do some more over the next few days and ill make another Blog out of them.

What one did you like best?

Let me know in the comments.

Thank you all for reading.

See you in the next Blog.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

ATP Oscars Return To Service

Wednesday 17th February 2016

Hi everyone and welcome to another STV Blog.

Today i want to talk about ATP Oscar Sets H4 & H5 (shown below).

H4 below.

H5 below.

The photo's above show Oscar sets H4 & H5 at Central with their pantographs down.

These Oscars have been ATP Testing for a couple of years.

It appears that they are ready to return to service.

ATP stands for Automatic Train Protection.

I will post an update Blog one i confirm that they are returning to service.

Thanks for reading.

Keep checking back for more Blogs.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

The Old Videos Playlist

Tuesday 16th February 2016

Hi everyone and welcome to another STV Blog.

Today i want to talk about the Old Videos Playlist i have on YouTube (link is below).

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-OFdIVf0Ycas2n93dxH82vRFNNISf0Bp

The old videos has 97 videos taken back in 2009-2010 with a Nokia C3.

These videos are really bad quality haha.

In this list of videos you will find the prototype Waratah under test.

A semi derailed S Set over my back fence of the house i use to live in.

G Sets, which are now T Sets numbered T100 and over.

S Sets that have now been scrapped.

S111 & S147 for example.

A01 when it was under test before it returned to China for modification.

Plus much more.

Thank you all for reading.

I hope to see you next time on another STV Blog.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

Sydney Trains Vlogs The Movie 3 Coming Soon

Sunday 14th February 2016

Sydney Trains Vlogs The Movie 3 Coming Soon.

Hi all and welcome to another STV Blog.

I have some exciting news!

Over the past few months i have been working on a 3rd movie.

Seeing this is the 3rd movie i decided to film in 3 states.

Sydney (NSW)

Melbourne (VIC)

Brisbane (QLD)

Unlike the previous 2 movies i will also be including Trams/Light Rail.

These include Sydney Light Rail, Yarra Trams in Melbourne and the Gold Coast G Link.

Seeing the first 2 Movies were uploaded somewhat close together (only 4 months apart) i want to leave at least 6 months between the 2nd and 3rd movies.

STV The Movie 1: 19/4/2015

STV The Movie 2: 22/8/2015

STV The Movie 3: Coming in 2016

Progress update for STV The Movie 3.

I have finished filming in Brisbane QLD and Melbourne VIC.

I have only filmed a couple of clips for Sydney but im working on it along with a couple of other projects.

If you aren't following this Blog yet please do so.

The Join or Follow button is under the Blog header photo.

Thank you all so much for reading.

Ill give further updates for the Movie as they become available.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

Sydney Metro Northwest Getting a Move On

Friday 12th February 2016

Hi all and welcome to another STV Blog.

Today i want to talk about Sydney Metro Northwest's Skytrain bridge.

On the way to Epping every morning i pass through the Sunnyholt Rd/Memorial Avenue & Windsor Rd intersection in Kellyville and the launching crane that lifts the Skytrain segments into place had been sitting in the same spot for months.

Ive been waiting for the moment when the launching crane crosses Memorial Ave and finally that time has come!!

Photo below taken on Wednesday 10th February 2016.

The photo shows the launching crane sitting over Memorial Avenue.

When the segments start getting lifted there will be road closures and detours.

The photo below was taken the following day, Thursday 11th February 2016.

This photo shows the first few bridge segments being lifted into place.

Roads have not yet been closed.

Thank you all for reading this Blog.

More updates will be posted as more photo ops arise.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

My 3 Transport Channels

Wednesday 10th February 2016

Hi all and welcome to another STV Blog.

In this Blog ill be telling you about my 3 transport YouTube Channels.

Sydney Trains Vlogs (STV):

www.youtube.com/sydneytrainsvlogs

Sydney Trains Vlogs or STV for short is a channel filled with Trains, Light Rail, Ferries & Buses.

Don't let the name fool you as i don't only film trains/transport in Sydney.

Ive also filmed trains and Light Rail/Trams in Brisbane/Gold Coast Queensland and in Melbourne Victoria.

This is my main channel, my pride and joy.

At the time of typing this Blog this channel has over 2,800 Subscribers, 4,000,000 total watch time in minutes, 2,300,000 total views and over 1,800 total videos.

Ive also filmed some historic events, things that will be looked back on in years to come like the very last trains in and out of Newcastle Station on Christmas Day 2014.

The very first passenger service on the South West Rail Link in February 2015.

The first Hunter J Set (J7) to receive the NSW Trainlink Livery emerging from UGL Broadmeadow.

There is much more!

In my earlier videos you will see V Sets in the Blue and Yellow Intercity Livery, Hunter Sets in the CityRail Livery.

At this point in time Tangara's are getting the new M Set lookalike doors so the original Tangara doors will be a thing of the past.

I love doing what i do. Not only because it entertains all of you it's also because it helps me through anxiety at times.

Anyhow, onto the next channel!

Australian Freight Watch (AFW):

I created this channel for those who like diesel locomotives and everything they carry (grain, coal, steel etc).

I film episodes involving a number of freighters, i also film single train videos.

This year (2016) the C Class loco's that run the Sandgate train will be replaced with C44ACi model Loco's called CRA Classes.

Time to go onto the final and newest channel.

Australian Railway TV (ARTV):

Australian Railway TV is only a few weeks old.

It's similar to Sydney Trains Vlogs but without commentary.

The commentary has been replaced with on screen information.

A new feature is Fun Facts!

These videos will be uploaded as episodes.

At the time of typing this Blog i have uploaded 3 Episodes and a Channel Trailer.

This Channel only has 42 Subscribers at the moment but i expect that to grow a lot faster as the next few episodes are uploaded.

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Each channel has a similar watermark as seen in the photo at the top of this Blog.

Don't forget to subscribe to the 3 channels.

Simply search:

Sydney Trains Vlogs

Australian Freight Watch

Australian Railway TV

Thank you all for reading another STV Blog.

Keep checking back for more!

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

New Tangara Light Weight Plug Doors

Sunday 7th February 2016

New Tangara Light Weight Plug Doors.

Back in 2014 there were a couple of trial Tangara's that recieved the new light weight plug doors which strongly resemble M Set doors but i assure you they are not M Set doors, apart from the window shape they are completely different.

The very first Tangara to get the new doors was T96 followed by T33 & T64.

In 2015 the trial was a sucess.

In the second half of 2015 the rest of the Tangara fleet started receiving the new light weight plug doors.

As of February 2016 almost half the Tangara fleet have the new doors.

These new doors do not have panels below the windows so undesirable idiots can't kick the panels out.

The photo below show's 2 Tangara sets coupled.

One with the new doors and one with the original doors.

What is your opinion on the new doors?

I quite like them.

Thank you all for reading another Sydney Trains Blog.

If you haven't joined STV on Blogger then please do so by clicking or tapping the follow or join button below the Blog header.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

Sydney's Abandoned Northern Beaches Mansion

Saturday 6th February 2016:

As some of you may know trains aren't my only hobby.

Im an urban explorer.. No i do not like grafitti or vandalism, i simply appreciate decaying buildings.

Here is a little something i filmed and photographed yesterday.

Sydney's Abandoned Northern Beaches Mansion:

Built in 1939.

This beautiful piece of history and architecture located in Sydney's Northern Beaches named lays in ruins.

Her name is "Morella".

She would be worth around $8 million.

It hasn't been lived in for around 10-15 years as the owner moved to northern NSW.

Unfortunately the owner passed away in 2015.

Now no one owns the property.

Inside the house there is no safe way to the top floor as stairs have given way.

Even if you could make your way upstairs it would be dangerous as the flooring has given way at various points.

The rest of the flooring on the top floor is unstable.

Ill now show you a few photos of Morella.

Photo below:

Morella, the house name sits above the front entrance.

Photo below: Wiring hangs with the kitchen in the background.

Photo below: A room upstairs without flooring.

Photo below: This ladder would have to be the only way upstairs but as i said before, it would be dangerous.

Photo below: A view of the back balcony

Photo below: The architecture of this building is amazing!

Photo below: A door handle on a door that leads out to the balcony.

Photo below: A seat on the back balcony.

Photo below: Under the back balcony.

Photo below: A grand piano in pieces.

Photo below: Fireplace in what looks to be a lounge room or possibly the master bedroom.

Photo below: The Kitchen.

Photo below: The Bathroom.

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I also filmed a video of the interior and exterior of this masterpiece.

To watch the video please visit the link below:

https://youtu.be/s3EdKvONN2I

Thank you all for reading this blog.

Keep checking back for frequent Blogs.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.

A new channel has been launched

Friday 5th February 2016

Hi all and welcome to another Sydney Trains Blog.

Over the past few weeks ive been thinking about starting a channel replacing the commentary with on screen information so i finally started it!

The new channel is called Australian Railway TV.

Don't worry, STV Sydney Trains Vlogs is and always will be my main channel, this is just something extra.

I don't have the channel link handy but i do have the link for the first Episode.

The link is below:

https://youtu.be/VLu11-mjnfw

You can also subscribe by using that link.

I have already filmed Episodes 2 - 5.

They will be uploaded in the next few days.

Something that is introduced in this channel is on screen fun facts (starting from Episode 3 onwards).

Please follow me here on Blogger, the follow or join button should be somewhere under the header or maybe on the sidebar.

Thank you all for reading another Sydney Trains Blog!

Check back for more :)

DL44 With National Rail Livery

Wednesday 3rd February 2016:

Hello everyone and welcome to another STV Blog.

Photo (above): DL44 at Central (i) aka Sydney Terminal on Platform 3.

On this day NR42 & DL44 lead the Indian Pacific into Central.

DL44 has the National Rail Livery which i have never seen up close and in person before.

NR42 was taken off the Indian Pacific and NR27 took over.

Another interesting thing about today's Indian Pacific is NR42 doesn't have the Indian Pacific Livery, it has the Pacific National Livery.

If any of you have any suggestions for Blogs let me know by leaving a comment!

Thank you all for reading, keep checking back for more Blogs.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.